Distribution & Ecology: Marquesas (Nuku Hiva) - Marine; Shoreline to 10 m (0-100m); Mollusc associate (Bivalve gen. Amygdalum).

Regional Records: Pinnotheralia laevigata - Rathbun, 1918: 181, fig. 115, pl. 39, fig. 1-3, pl. 40, fig. 1-2 (Marquesas "Tawhoe" = Taiohae, Nuku Hiva). - Schmitt et al., 1973: 125 (catalogue "Marquesas islands"). - Poupin, 1996a: 72 (Checklist). - Remark: Type locality of this species is Chili. It is therefore doubtful that Rathbun (1918) idendification of her Marquesas specimens is correct. This point should be clarified with the recent collections of one crab pinnotherid associated with mussels of the genus Amygdalum (MUSORSTOM 9 Marquesas campaign, 1998, Ua Pou, up to about 100 m).

Depth distribution: 0 - 100 m